Home Renovations, Remodeling, and Home Improvements - Tom Gocze
68 results total, viewing 1 - 20
Becoming cranky about magic paint
I wonder whether there is a certain age when one becomes a contrarian. I wonder that because I have a lot of negative feelings about a lot of stuff that is sold these days. One thing is magic … more
By Tom Gocze
Special to the NEWS | 3/6/10 | 690 views
A lot of time spent thinking about sidewalks
I spend a lot of time thinking about sidewalks this time of year. That is because my sidewalk goes on a little trip up in the air a bit from frost heaving. When we bought this house, there was a … more
By Tom Gocze
Special to the NEWS | 2/13/10 | 443 views
Best friend in home heating choices: common sense
The other day my wife received a nice color brochure from a company that makes a heating device that is sold on TV infomercials. It is being sold by a famous TV home improvement guy — not … more
By Tom Gocze
Special to the NEWS | 1/30/10 | 1658 views
When it comes to weatherization, it’s really all relative
For too many years I have been talking about insulating buildings. Back when this first became an issue in my little world, the idea of building walls with two-by-sixes and filling them with R-19 … more
By Tom Gocze
Special to the NEWS | 1/23/10 | 729 views
Wood product fun experiment to burn
Now that we are into winter with both feet, I have become fully acclimated, although I do find myself about places that are warm and dry. Last June I bought a box of compressed wood. It is used in … more
By Tom Gocze
Special to the NEWS | 1/9/10 | 1018 views
Hot-water heaters have come a long way
There are a lot of options when people want to have hot water in their home. more
By Tom Gocze
Special to the NEWS | 1/2/10 | 1240 views
Using a little paint and a lot of imagination
An acquaintance of mine once had some sage advice related to child rearing: You should not think twice about teenagers wanting outrageous hairstyles or colors, since hair grows out and can always be … more
By Tom Gocze
Special to the NEWS | 12/19/09 | 763 views
Tiling a worthwhile project for the winter months
As winter slowly starts to grasp us in its chilly hand, I quickly direct my activities to the interior of the house. One project that I have come to enjoy doing is tiling. About 35 years ago, I … more
By Tom Gocze
Special to the NEWS | 12/12/09 | 1174 views
The misadventures of a curious child
When I was a child, there was an attic hatch in our bathroom. Since I was a latchkey kid and someone (who did not know any better) left a stepladder in the house one day, it was a natural thing to go up in the attic. more
By Tom Gocze
Special to the NEWS | 11/28/09 | 1033 views
Fixing drains can result in B-movie-style slime
Time for Saturday breakfast fun reading with Tom. Every so often, we all have sink drains slow down. As Mr. Fixit, I thought I had a firm grasp on the reality of keeping the drains moving … more
By Tom Gocze
Special to the NEWS | 11/7/09 | 1306 views
Here's a way to raise the temperature during a sermon
Someone asked me the other day if I still did energy audits. Unfortunately, I do not have the time to do them, and also, after holding an energy auditor license for more than 20 years, the state … more
By Tom Gocze
Special to the NEWS | 10/31/09 | 1143 views
Experts blame vehicles’ early demise on brine
The long winter in Maine has its cost. We talk a lot about heating and keeping our homes warm. We also get around pretty well during the winter in Maine. People from the south always are impressed by … more
By Tom Gocze
Special to the NEWS | 10/10/09 | 2010 views
Insulation types multiply during third energy crunch
It is interesting to have lived long enough to experience my third energy crunch. The first one was in 1973, the year we got married, and I was still in college. I recall sitting in a gas line … more
By Tom Gocze
Special to the NEWS | 10/3/09 | 1586 views
Shooing flies seeking shelter for the winter
It is pretty safe to say that the insects will inherit the Earth someday. Whether we destroy ourselves with nuclear weapons or an asteroid hits us or a pox lands on our heads, the bugs likely … more
By Tom Gocze
Special to the NEWS | 9/26/09 | 1998 views
Going to the Dumpster? Try recycling instead
Last week they were recycling TVs and old computers in Bangor. Although I have never gone to one of these events, I love the concept. more
By Tom Gocze
Special to the NEWS | 9/19/09 | 1520 views
Before buying an old house, seek help
Since I spend a lot of time looking and thinking about houses, my wife, Bonnie, and I are always checking out houses that are for sale online. You may have heard that the housing market has … more
By Tom Gocze
Special to the NEWS | 9/12/09 | 1802 views
Do your research before switching to solar heating
I recently came across a couple of videos online about solar heating. Both were from vendors in the Northeast. Since autumn is almost upon us again, people naturally are thinking of heating. more
By Tom Gocze
Special to the NEWS | 9/5/09 | 1499 views
Plumbing like a crazy person
Plumbing is a fun job. There is nothing more exciting than installing plumbing and have it not leak. Well, almost nothing. more
By Tom Gocze
Special to the NEWS | 8/29/09 | 1395 views
Heat pumps help keep it cool
In keeping with the theme of water-related problems and the all-too-soon-gone sticky summertime weather, we installed another heat pump water heater. This one is the second-generation unit … more
By Tom Gocze
Special to the NEWS | 8/22/09 | 1539 views
The woes of building with wood products
I like working with wood. Some days, I hate building with wood. This past week makes me think a lot about why we build with wood. Many of our current wood building products are fraught with … more
By Tom Gocze
Special to the NEWS | 8/15/09 | 2005 views
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